Rubus plant named ‘Glen Dee’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Rubus idaeus , ‘Glen Dee’, that is characterized by its spinefree canes, its fruit that is large in size with a good, palatable flavor and high Brix°, its A 10  resistance to the European raspberry aphid ( Amphorophora idaei ), its field tolerance to the raspberry bushy dwarf virus ( Idaeovirus  RBDV) and raspberry root rot ( Phytophthora rubi ), and its late fruiting season.

Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus.

Cultivar designation: ‘Glen Dee’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of raspberry plant, botanically known as Rubus idaeus ‘Glen Dee’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Glen Dee’.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program in Dundee, Scotland. The objectives of the breeding program are to develop new raspberry cultivars suitable for the fresh fruit market that are well adapted to production under protected cropping systems with improved agronomic qualities and increased tolerance to pathogens. The Inventor made a cross in 2004 between unnamed proprietary plants in the Inventor's breeding program, reference no. MRS 00123A5 as the female parent and reference no. MRS 0019B11 as the male parent. The Inventor selected ‘Glen Dee’ in 2006 as a single unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by root cuttings in Dundee, Scotland in 2006. Asexual propagation by root cuttings and tissue culture has shown that the unique features of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Glen Dee’ as a new and unique cultivar of Rubus.

-   -   1. ‘Glen Dee’ exhibits spine free canes.     -   2. ‘Glen Dee’ exhibits fruit that is large in size.     -   3. ‘Glen Dee’ exhibits good flavor with a high Brix°.     -   4. ‘Glen Dee’ exhibits A₁₀ resistance to the European raspberry         aphid (Amphorophora idaei).     -   5. ‘Glen Dee’ has been observed to be free of raspberry bushy         dwarf virus (RBDV) in Scotland.     -   6. ‘Glen Dee’ exhibits good root vigor and some field tolerance         to raspberry root rot (Phytophthora rubi).     -   7. ‘Glen Dee’ exhibits a late summer fruiting season.

The parents of, ‘Glen Dee’, MRS 00123A5 and MRS 0019B11, differ from ‘Glen Dee’ in having fruit that is smaller in size, in having an earlier fruiting season, in having decreased tolerance to raspberry root rot (Phytophthora rubi), and in being less resistant to European large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora idaei). ‘Glen Dee’ can also be compared to the raspberry cultivars ‘Tulameen’ (not patented) and ‘Glen Ample’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,418). ‘Tulameen’ is similar to ‘Glen Dee’ in having fruit that is large in size with a palatable flavor. ‘Tulameen’ differs from ‘Glen Dee’ in having spines on its canes, in having an earlier fruiting season, and in having fruit that is dark red in color. ‘Glen Ample’ is similar to ‘Glen Dee’ in having spine free canes. ‘Glen Ample’ differs from ‘Glen Dee’ in having fruit that is smaller in size and in having an earlier fruiting season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Rubus, ‘Glen Dee’. The photographs were taken in Dundee, Scotland of a 4 year-old plant as grown outdoors in the ground.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the habit of a plant of ‘Glen Dee’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the leaves of ‘Glen Dee’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the fruits of ‘Glen Dee’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Rubus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 4 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in the ground in Dundee, Scotland. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Mid-late season; flowering late May-early             July in Scotland.         -   Plant habit.—Perennial, upright to semi-upright.         -   Height and spread.—Primocane canes reach up to 2.5 m height,             spreading of 1 m.         -   Hardiness.—At least U.S.D.A. Zone 9a.         -   Diseases and pests.—Resistant to the European raspberry             aphid (Amphorophora idaei), tolerant to raspberry bushy             dwarf virus (Idaeovirus RBDV) and some field tolerance to             raspberry root rot (Phytophthora rubi).         -   Root description.—Fibrous and vigorous.         -   Branching habit.—Not freely branching.         -   Propagation.—Root cuttings (preferred) or tissue culture.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate to vigorous. -   Cane description (new growth; primocanes, mature canes; floricanes):     -   -   Cane size.—An average of 2.3 m in length and 8 cm in width             at mid stem.         -   Stem color.—144A.         -   Stem surface.—New growth; glabrous without spines or             prickles, color 165A.         -   Stipules.—2 per petiole, very fine, an average of 7 mm in             length, lanceolate in shape, color 145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—Mid to late April in Scotland.         -   Leaf shape.—Ovate in overall form.         -   Leaf division.—3 leaflets (occasionally 5).         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf orientation.—Outward to pendant.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 20 cm in length and 16.5 cm in             width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 13 per stem.         -   Internode length.—An average of 7 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet base.—Terminal leaflets; cordate to cuneate, lateral             leaflets; oblique.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate, color primarily matches leaf             color.         -   Leaflet margins.—Doubly serrate.         -   Leaflet arrangement.—One terminal and 1 to 2 lateral pairs,             not overlapping (free).         -   Leaflet attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaflet surface.—Upper and lower surface slightly rugose.         -   Leaflet color.—Upper surface 134A, lower surface 191A.         -   Leaflet size.—Terminal; an average of 11.5 cm in length and             8.8 cm in width, lateral; and average of 8 cm in length and             5 cm in width.         -   Leaflet substance.—Thin.         -   Petioles.—Round in shape, an average of 5 cm in length and             1.5 mm in width, color 146D, surface pubescent and without             spines/prickles.         -   Rachis.—Round in shape, an average of 9 cm in length and 0.8             mm in width, color; sun exposed surface 144B to 144D, upper             surface suffused with 173A and shaded surface 145A, all             surfaces pubescent and without spines/prickles. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Raceme, an average of 8 cm in length (from             base of rachis) and 1.5 cm in width.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 4 days.         -   Rachis (peduncle).—Oval in shape, color N144A, glabrous             surface, without spines/prickles, an average of 14 cm in             length and 2 mm in width.         -   Pedicels.—Oval in shape, an average of 2.2 cm in length and             1 mm in width, color 146D, surface glabrous without             spines/prickles.         -   Flower buds.—Triangular in shape with a flat wide bottom and             apex narrowing to a point, up to 7 mm in width and 6 mm in             length, color 144B.         -   Flower type.—Spreading calyx with a center of a ring of             numerous upright stamens and with numerous pistils in the             center, petals are quickly shed upon opening.         -   Flower number.—An average of 7 per raceme.         -   Flower size.—Average of 9 mm in depth and 2.2 cm in             diameter.         -   Sepals.—Five, an average of 1 cm in length and 5mm in width,             base cuneate, apex lanceolate, smooth on both surfaces.         -   Petals.—Five, dropped just after flower opening, an average             of 5 mm in length and 2.9 mm in width, obovate in shape with             a rounded apex and cuneate base, glabrous on upper and lower             surfaces, thin, color NN155B.         -   Receptacle.—An average of 8.5 mm in diameter and 15.9 mm in             depth, color 155D.         -   Androecium.—An average of 80 stamens that form a concentric             ring about 9 mm in diameter, inserted into calyx at base,             about 5.2 mm in length. Filament color NN155C, anthers <1 mm             in length, color 163C, pollen was not observed.         -   Gynoecium.—An average of 72 pistils, styles are an average             of 5 mm in length and color 155B, stigmas are very small,             ovaries are attached to receptacle at base, about 3.7 mm in             length and 4 mm in width, ovate in shape, and color 157C. -   Fruit description:     -   -   Fruit number.—An average of 20 per fruiting branch.         -   Fruit size.—Aggregate an average of 2.5 cm in diameter and             2.7 cm in length.         -   Fruit shape.—Aggregate fruit is broad conical.         -   Drupelets.—An average of 72 per aggregate fruit, globose in             shape, firm, an average of 4.5 mm in diameter and height,             color when maturing; 148C, color when mature; 45B, surface             has low glossiness, style and stigma; persistent at             maturity, fine.         -   Persistence of bracts.—Persistent.         -   Receptacle.—Round in shape (sits on calyx), stamens are             inserted in the perimeter and ovaries are adhered in the             center, an average of 8 mm in diameter and 1.6 mm in depth,             158B in color on upper and lower surface.         -   Fruit maturity date.—Late summer in Scotland.         -   Seed.—Oval in shape, 1 per drupelet, 3 mm in length, 1.5 mm             in width, 164B in color.         -   Cropping frequency.—Annually, produced on 1-year-old wood             (floricanes) in the summer.         -   Flavor.—Sweet tart.         -   BRIX.—10.5°.         -   Fruit weight.—Average of 5.8 g. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus plant named ‘Glen Dee’ as herein illustrated and described. 